Pharmacy Intern

Why work for Nebraska Methodist Health System?
At Nebraska Methodist Health System, we focus on providing exceptional care to the communities we serve and people we employ. We call it The Meaning of Care – a culture that has and will continue to set us apart. It’s helping families grow by making each delivery special, conveying a difficult diagnosis with a compassionate touch, going above and beyond for a patient’s needs, or giving a high five when a patient beats a disease or conquers a personal health challenge. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits and a great work environment where all employees are valued! Most importantly, our employees are part of a team that makes a real difference in the communities we live and work in.

Job Summary:

Location: Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital
Address: 933 E Pierce St, Council Bluffs, IA

Work Schedule: Employee will work one evening shift 430/9 and one weekend shift per week 07am/330pm or 1230pm/9pm. 

Assists in the various activities of the Pharmacy department not requiring the professional judgment of the pharmacist.

Responsibilities:

Essential Functions

Sterile Compounding Management

• Pass Sterile Compounding Competencies and manage product workflow.
• Perform aseptic technique, proper procedures for preparing all types of intravenous admixtures in accordance to internal and USP 797, 800 guidelines. 
• Follow procedure for proper USP 797 cleaning of compounding suite and documentation of cleaning.
• Maintain medication and supply stock for IV/sterile compounding areas with an awareness for back-up stock.
• Compound, package and label drug products as needed.
• Preparation of proper labeling for said admixtures, proper technique for visual inspections of admixtures, and documentation for quality control.

Central Pharmacy Management

• Answer telephone calls on a respectable level and complete necessary follow-up.
• Able to manage Unit Dose area and Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADC).
• Able to operate and manage Pharmacy equipment (carousel, UD packager, etc.).
• Operate Controlled Substance system (CSM), manage associated paperwork, understand and properly carry out controlled substance policies and procedures for distribution, storage, charging, reconciling and recordkeeping of controlled substances in ADC and Non-ADC transactions.
• Crash Cart, other kits/trays (e.g., perfusion, anesthesia, etc.) addressed/filled prior to end of shift.
• Follow proper procedure for preparing, packaging, and labeling extemporaneous unit dose products, pre-packaging medications not available in unit dose, and preparing other extemporaneous labels according to standardized labeling policy.
• Perform various duties associated with institutional drug distribution systems. This includes but is not limited to, the use of drug dispensing and compounding automation, viewing of medication orders in the Electronic Health Record (EHR), and the preparation of medications for patients.

Patient Care Unit Management

• Prepare medications and deliver to ADC/patient care unit appropriately and accurately to prevent medication variances and outdated stock.
• Follow proper procedure for filling as needed and scheduled medications for patients if not stocked in ADC.
• Deliver medications to the appropriate place in the nursing unit.
• Consult with Pharmacist as needed for items that should be loaded in ADC.
• Complete all ADC Pending and Loads prior to end of shift.
• All credits are checked per shift, returned to pharmacy, and put in proper location
• Follow proper procedure for monthly nursing unit and/or floor inspection and check for outdated drugs in ADC, code carts and Pharmacy stock.

Universal Pharmacy Responsibilities

• Transfer of medication issues and pending transactions are communicated between the pharmacy team for completion.
• Participate in the training and/or orientation of new pharmacy employees.
• Help maintain a sufficient inventory level for all medications and supplies in all areas of the Pharmacy Department.
• Demonstrate ability to safely handle and deliver Hazardous Drugs.
• Enter charges and credits into computer system.
• Actions represent the best interest of the patient.
• Follow all Safety Alerts: Code Red; Code Triage; Code Adam.

Teamwork exhibited by actions

• Completion of orders to point of delivery (visual inspections while staffing).
• Follow established policies and procedures for pharmacy operations.
• Respectful of pharmacist oversight of activities (feedback from pharmacists).
• Uphold customer service expectations, as defined in the Employee Standards of Behavior.

Medication Reconciliation (at MJE and NMH)

• Interview patients and/or their families for compiling an accurate and complete list of prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medications the patient was taking before admission to the hospital as well as verify patient's last doses, allergy information and preferred pharmacy.
• Contact patient's physician's office and/or pharmacy for compiling an accurate and complete list of patient's prescriptions, over-the-counter and herbal medications.
• Accurately transcribe medication history information into the EHR.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may be required to perform other related duties assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Schedule:

Employee will work one evening shift 430/9 and one weekend shift per week 07am/330pm or 1230pm/9pm. 

Job Description:

Job Requirements

Education

• Enrolled in a nationally recognized College of Pharmacy.

Experience

• Age (per State of Nebraska/Iowa) at least 18 years of age with no current drug or alcohol addiction/convictions of any drug related misdemeanor or felony.
• Some experience in a hospital and/or retail pharmacy preferred. 

License/Certifications

• Registration with the State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services or Iowa Board of Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Intern (RPHI) for work state at the start of employment required.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Must possess certain demonstrated abilities and a thorough knowledge base, understanding, and level of proficiency to assure adherence to the procedures and objectives of pharmacy services. These abilities and knowledge include general basic chemistry, arithmetic, basic algebra, reading, and writing.
• Interpersonal Skills: To communicate effectively with hospital personnel, patients, and the public through daily rounds and meetings.
• Computer Skills: Microsoft Outlook, Word, basic.
• Analytical Skills: Must be able to interpret and evaluate medication request for triaging to pharmacist.
• Time Management Skills: Ability to prioritize time and tasks according to the needs of patients without prompting.

Physical Requirements

Weight Demands

• Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force.
• 50 pounds of force for one person or up to 100 pounds of force with assistance from a second person with the ability to meet Medium Work Weight Demands.  A cabinet with a height of greater than 60" requires two individuals to move.

Physical Activity

• Not necessary for the position (0%):
  • Climbing
  • Crawling
  • Kneeling
• Occasionally Performed (1%-33%):
  • Balancing
  • Crouching
  • Lifting
  • Pulling/Pushing
  • Sitting
  • Stooping/bending
  • Twisting
• Frequently Performed (34%-66%):
  • Carrying
  • Distinguish colors
  • Grasping
  • Keyboarding/typing
  • Reaching
  • Repetitive Motions
  • Speaking/talking
  • Standing
  • Walking
• Constantly Performed (67%-100%):
  • Hearing
  • Seeing/visual

Job Hazards

• Not Related:
  • Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex)
  • Explosives (pressurized gas)
  • Electrical Shock/Static
  • Radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma (particles such as X-ray, Cat Scan, Gamma Knife, etc.)
  • Radiation Non-Ionizing (Ultraviolet, visible light, infrared and microwaves that causes injuries to tissue or thermal or photochemical means)
• Rare (1-33%):
  • Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact) Blood or Body Fluid (BBF)
  • Physical hazards (noise, temperature, lighting, wet floors, outdoors, sharps) (more than ordinary office environment)
  • Equipment/Machinery/Tools
  • Mechanical moving parts/vibrations

About Methodist:

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, more than 30 clinic locations, a nursing and allied health college, and a medical supply distributorship and central laundry facility. From the day Methodist Hospital was chartered in 1891, service to our communities has been a top priority. Financial assistance, health education, outreach to our diverse communities and populations, and other community benefit activities have always been central to our mission.

Nebraska Methodist Health System is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by Federal, state or local law.